Riyadh Metro

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Middle East

Completed · Transport · Urban Metro Rail Network · Arid · 2024

A 176 km, six-line metro network built almost entirely underground or elevated to avoid the extreme surface heat of Riyadh, delivered by three international JV consortia simultaneously — one of the largest concurrent infrastructure packages ever procured. Stations are fully air-conditioned with active cooling integrated into the structural slab system rather than added as standalone mechanical plant.

Innovation highlights

• 176 km network delivered by three JVs under simultaneous construction — unprecedented procurement scale
• cooling integrated into structural slab to eliminate separate HVAC ceiling voids
• platform screen doors across all stations to contain cooled air in arid 45°C environment
• BIM-coordinated clash detection across six separate station typologies
• elevated stations designed to shade pedestrian access routes below

Client / Developer

Arriyadh Development Authority

Architect

Zaha Hadid Architects / Gerber Architekten / Henning Larsen / others (per line)

Engineer

Bechtel / Parsons / Atkins (joint venture)

Type

Urban Metro Rail Network

#metro rail #arid climate cooling #concurrent procurement #BIM coordination #platform screen doors #Riyadh

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